Rail system for a camera

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a rail system for a camera comprising at least one guide rail on which a camera slider is movably mounted, wherein a support structure consisting of multiple hingedly interconnected segments is provided along the at least one guide rail and said segments are in contact with said at least one guide rail.

The invention concerns a rail system for a camera as set forth in the classifying portion of claim 1.

Such rail systems are already state of the art and are disclosed for example in U.S. Pat. No. 6,523,957. Camera guides on rail systems have been developed in recent years to an extremely popular aid in the film and photographic industry. The high range of use for product and advertising films has increased just like use in nature film. Here reference is to be made in particular to the use of camera guides (rail systems, sliders) in regard to popular time lapse videos (time lapse recordings). There are various products on the market, which guide a camera slider on a linear rail system. Rail systems with which it is possible to travel along a curve are rather poor and by virtue of the rigid structure can only be limitedly used for special themes.

Rail systems for cameras have the disadvantage that they are severely limited in flexibility. The rails are rigid and cannot be adapted to the environment. If for example there should be a wish to photograph an object with a camera and to move the camera in a circular path around the object the circular path cannot be readily adapted in its radius to the size of the object. If the object for example is small a tighter circle is advantageous while in the case of a large object a larger circle is required. In addition rails are found to be bulky, and transport of the bulky rail system is found to be extremely complicated. The structure of the rail systems is also to be considered as highly complex. Often the rail systems which comprise a plurality of individual parts are of low stability. Linear guide systems can only be used for linear movements and not for a movement of a camera slider for example on a circular arc. Conversely it is also not possible to use a camera guide rail which is shaped with curves for linear movement at the camera.

The object of the invention is to avoid the above-described disadvantages and to provide a rail system which is improved over the state of the art.

In the rail system according to the invention that is achieved by the features of claim 1. If the segments are in connected relationship with the at least one guide rail the arrangement of the individual segments can be altered in their form and the guide rail can be adapted.

In that case it has proven to he particularly advantageous if two flexible guide rails are provided along the carrier structure, wherein the carrier structure is disposed between the flexible guide rails. The carrier structure ensures a high level of stability for the rail system, and the flexible guide rails arranged thereon can be altered in their form, with the carrier structure which is moveable in itself.

If the at least one guide rail is mounted moveably—preferably slidably—relative to the carrier structure then the guide rail is not upset or stretched by the change in the geometry of the carrier structure. If the carrier structure is curved for example in a circular arc then the inner guide rail can move freely along the carrier structure, by virtue of the displaceable mounting of the guide rail. In that case the outer guide rail is not stretched but can also move freely along the carrier structure.

In that respect it has proven to be particularly advantageous if there is provided an arresting device for inhibiting the relative mobility between the at least one guide rail and the carrier structure. The rail system is locked in itself in respect of shape by activation of the arresting device. If the rail system is shaped for example in a circular arc and then blocked by the arresting device then it remains in that circular shape. If the arresting device is released the rail system can be moved back into a linear shape again and serves as a linear camera guide system.

If the rail system has an end portion, wherein the at least one guide rail is mounted moveably—preferably slidably—in the end portion then the ends of the guide rail are stowed in the end portion. The guide rails remain in the structure of the end portion after bending of the rail system and do not project beyond same.

If an arresting device is arranged in the end portion it can be easily reached, it does not impede the movement of the camera slider and the rail system can be arrested or opened at that readily accessible location in order to change or maintain the form of the rail system.

If the plurality of segments are connected together by axis members the rail system can be easily changed in form and a curved structure can be produced from a linear structure.

In that respect it has proven to be particularly advantageous if the at least one guide rail is formed from a flexible plastic, a plastic compound and/or a flexible metal. The easy deformability of those materials ensures a simple configurational shape for the rail system. In addition a plastic—in particular of a flexible nature—has damping properties if the rollers of the camera slider move thereon. No troublesome noise is produced when the camera slider rolls along and the vibrations which are produced due to unevenness on the rail are in that case reduced to a minimum.

As the camera slider is mounted on rollers provided with rolling and/or sliding bearings on the at least one guide rail displacement of the camera slider is simplified and rolling friction is reduced. In addition, no noise is produced in the rolling movement due for example to a badly mounted roller, which noise would be a severed disturbance when filming.

If the axes of rotation of the rollers are arranged in a horizontal plane and/or at an angle differing from the horizontal plane on the camera slider and/or the at least one guide rail it is possible for the camera slider to be mounted in stable relationship. That therefore prevents the camera slider from tipping over or falling out of the rail system. That is also assisted by the at least one guide rail involving a T-shaped cross-section. If for example one of the rollers on the camera slider engages behind the overhang of the T-shaped cross-section than the camera slider is prevented from tipping off the guide rail.

If the camera slider is displaceable by a drive unit—preferably an electric motor—on the rail system it is then possible for movements on the rail system to be automatically implemented. The movement of the camera slider on the rail system can thus be matched in respect of time to the film sequence, which is highly advantageous in regard to special film effects.

Further advantageous embodiments are defined in the appendant claims.

Further details and advantages of the present invention will be described more fully hereinafter by means of the specific description with reference to the embodiments by way of example illustrated in the drawings in which:

FIGS. 1a and 1b show a perspective view of a rail system with a segment,

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of a rail system with camera slider,

FIG. 3 shows a side view of a carrier structure,

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a rail system,

FIG. 5 shows a rail system with pulling element,

FIG. 6 shows an arresting device with actuator,

FIGS. 7a through 7c show various radii of curvature in the rail system,

FIG. 8 shows a diagrammatic side view of a camera slider, camera and guide rail,

FIG. 9 shows a sectional view of a rail system and camera slider,

FIG. 10 shows a plan view of a rail system,

FIG. 11 shows a detail view of an insert,

FIG. 12 shows a rail system curved,

FIG. 13 shows a sectional view of a rail system,

FIG. 14 shows a guide rail in insert,

FIG. 15 diagrammatically shows a camera slider on a guide rail, and

FIG. 16 shows a view from below of a rail system with camera slider.

FIG. 1a shows a segment 1 of a rail system 10 having a guide rail R1 and a guide rail R2. The carrying structure of the segments 1 is disposed between the guide rails R1, R2.

FIG. 1b shows the rail system 10 from a somewhat different angle of view to FIG. 1 a, The guide rails R1, R2 are mounted longitudinally moveably slidably in the individual segments 1.

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of a rail system 10 with a camera slider 20 mounted displaceably on the guide rails R1, R2 by way of rollers 21. The guide rails R1, R2 are disposed mounted slidably on the carrier structure 30 and can be moved along same. The carrier structure 30 comprises a plurality of individual segments 1 which are connected together by way of rotatable connecting elements, for example axis members A.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of a carrier structure 30. The individual segments 1 are connected together by axis members A. The segments 1 can move rotatably about the axis member.

FIG. 4 shows a rail system 10 having a carrier structure 30 on which the guide rails R1, R2 are longitudinally moveably mounted. The guide rails R1 and R2 are fixedly connected together in mutually spaced relationship by way of the connecting portion 2. The connecting portion 2 is also fixedly connected to the carrier structure 30. The end portion 3 is disposed at the other end of the rail system 10. The guide rails R1, R2 are mounted moveably in the end portion 3. The carrier structure 30 is fixedly connected to the end portion 3.

If the rail system 10 is curved as shown in FIG. 4 then the inner guide rail R2 is upset. The upsetting is compensated by the guidance in the end portion 3—the guide rail can move freely along the guide means in the end portion 3, until reaching a condition of abutment. The outer guide rail R1 is stretched in the circular arc shown in FIG. 4. The stretching is also compensated by a guide means in the end portion 3—an abutment on the end portion 3 and/or the guide rail R1 prevents the guide rail R1 from being pulled completely out of the end portion 3. When the bending radius to be reached is set the rail system can be blocked by way of the arresting device 4 and thus remains in the last-wanted position.

FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of the rail system 10. In this case the circular arc is not held in its form by an arresting device 4 (not visible in FIG. 5)—by means of the pulling element 5 whose length is adjustable the desired radius can be set at the rail system 10. In that case, as also in FIG. 4, the carrier structure 30 which is composed of individual segments 1 is curved. The guide rails R1 and R2 adapt to the desired circular arc by virtue of their longitudinal mobility relative to the carrier structure 30. The loose ends of the guide rails R1, R2 open in the end portion 3 and are longitudinally moveably supported therein.

FIG. 6 shows the arresting device 4 in the end portion 3 of the rail system 10. This embodiment shows how a spindle 7 is moved by way of an actuator 6, the spindle 7 having a thread at both ends and thus being pressed against the guide rails R1, R2. The guide rails R1, R2 are inhibited in their mobility by the arresting device of the guide rails R1, R2 being pressed against the body of the end portion 3.

FIGS. 7 show a rail system 10 in the stretched form. The camera slider 20 can move linearly along the rail system 10. The elongated form which is shown in FIG. 7a can also be retained by way of the arresting device 4. If that should be altered, the arresting device 4 is released and the rail system 10 is put into its desired form, as can be seen in FIG. 7 b.

FIG. 7b shows a slightly curved shape of the rail system 10, the guide rail R1 can move along the end portion 3, and is however mounted longitudinally moveably in the individual segments 1 and also in the end portion 3. That also applies to the guide rail R2 which is already stretched in this slightly curved configuration. A part of the guide rail R2 is moved out of its position in the end portion 3 in that case. If that form is to be retained then the system is blocked in the desired form by way of the arresting device 4.

FIG. 7c shows a heavily pronounced circular arc of the rail system 10. In the end portion 3 the guide rail R1 was inserted as far as a condition of abutment, and the outer guide rail R2 was pulled out of the end portion 3 until reaching a condition of abutment. The camera slider 20 can be moved along the circular path by way of the rollers 21. If the form is to be retained the rail system 10 is blocked by way of the arresting device. That form could however also be held by way of the pulling device 5 (not shown in FIG. 7c ), as illustrated in FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 shows a camera 31 on a displaceable camera slider 20 mounted on at least one guide rail R by way of rollers 21 (not visible in FIG. 8).

FIG. 9 shows a sectional view of the rail system 10. In this case the rollers 21 are so shaped that they involve a positively locking engagement with the guide rails R1, R2. That therefore prevents the camera or the camera slider 20 from tipping over. The Figure also shows a drive unit 22 which moves the camera slider 20 along the guide rails R1, R2. In this case the movement of the camera slider 20 can be implemented by way of a control device or manually. The drive unit can be effected for example by way of a belt drive, a chain drive or also by way of at least one friction wheel which is in contact with one of the guide rails R and is driven by a motor fixed to the camera slider 20.

FIG. 10 shows the carrier structure 30 of a rail system 10. The guide rails R1, R2, R3 are in this case arranged longitudinally moveably on the carrier structure 30.

FIG. 11 shows a detail from FIG. 10. This relates to the region E1. The detail shows the insert G which for example comprises plastic like Teflon or another slidable material. That insert G facilitates displacement of the guide rail R in relation to the carrier structure 30. The carrier structure 30 which is produced by individual segments 1 which are connected together by way of the axis member A has side devices Q1, Q2. Disposed in those side devices Q1, Q2 are the inserts which facilitate the displacement of the guide rails R1, R2, R3.

FIG. 12 again shows a heavily curved circular path of the rail system 10. The individual segments 1 are connected together by way of the axis members A. Stretching and upsetting at the guide rails R1, R2, R3 is compensated by their longitudinal mobility relative to the carrier structure 30 and to the individual segments 1 thereof.

FIG. 13 shows a sectional view of an embodiment. The side devices Q of the individual structures have recesses for receiving the guide rails R1, R2, R3. The region E1 is shown in detail in FIG. 14.

FIG. 14 shows the inserts in the region E1, which facilitate easy displacement of the guide rails R1, R2, R3.

FIG. 15 shows a further embodiment of a rail system 10. In this case the rollers 21 are so arranged that the camera slider 20 cannot drop off guide rails R. A camera mounting element AA is disposed on the camera slider 20. The guide rails R are fixed moveably in the side devices Q1, Q2, which are provided by the segments 1 of the carrier structure 0.

FIG. 16 shows a view from below of the guide rails R, with a camera slider which is displaceable thereon and which is connected to the rails R by way of rollers 21. In this case the guide means Z prevents uncontrolled pivotal movement of the camera slider 20 in relation to the guide rails R. 

1. A rail system comprising at least one guide rail on which a camera slider, on which a camera is mounted, is displaceably mounted, wherein a carrier structure comprising a plurality of hingedly interconnected segments is provided along the at least one guide rail, wherein the segments are in connected relationship with the at least one guide rail.
 2. A rail system as set forth in claim 1 wherein two flexible guide rails are provided along the carrier structure, wherein the carrier structure is disposed between the flexible guide rails.
 3. A rail system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the at least one guide rail is mounted moveably—preferably slidably—relative to the carrier structure.
 4. A rail system as set forth in claim 3 wherein there is provided an arresting device for inhibiting the relative mobility between the at least one guide rail and the carrier structure.
 5. A rail system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the rail system has an end portion, wherein the at least one guide rail is mounted moveably—preferably slidably—in the end portion.
 6. A rail system as set forth claim 4 wherein the arresting device is arranged in the end portion.
 7. A rail system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the plurality of segments are connected together by axis members.
 8. A rail system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the at least one guide rail is formed from a flexible plastic, a plastic compound and/or a flexible metal.
 9. A rail system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the camera slider is mounted on rollers provided with rolling and/or sliding bearings at the at least one guide rail.
 10. A rail system as set forth in claim 9 wherein the axes of rotation of the rollers are arranged in a horizontal plane and/or an angle differing from the horizontal plane on the camera slider and/or the at least one guide rail.
 11. A rail system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the camera slider is displaceable on the rail system by a drive unit—preferably an electric motor. 